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The Sistine Chapel of the Alpes Maritimes

2010-07-29 16:37

What: Notre Dame des Fontaines
Guide: Alcyon Riviera Touring
Contact: +33 6 80 86 43 62

To discover the unexpected riches of the region, sometimes you have to leave the lively and exuberant atmosphere of the coast and head to the cooler but no less fascinating interior.

Alcyon Riviera Touring offers an introduction to the thousand and one unknown treasures of the Riviera’s hinterland. These high valleys, stunning landscapes in their own right, are filled with the mystery and excitement of this area’s local history: ancient civilizations, political intrigue, and murder. Between Tende and Brigue there’s a wealth of stories to discover.

One such highlight is the so-called ‘Sistine Chapel of the Maritime Alps’: Notre Dame des Fontaines. Standing at the foot of the Collardente pass, the chapel was built and dedicated to the Virgin Mary when the people of Brigue were saved from drought by the appearance of a miraculous spring, which can still be seen today next to the chapel. 

Known for its astonishing and highly expressive frescoes, a visit to the chapel in the company of an expert guide will help you discover more about the life and religious beliefs of the Middle Ages.

And there’s more to find out in the Museum of Wonders in the village of Tende, a collection of artefacts from the agricultural and pastoral peoples who inhabited the area 3000 years ago and left behind them a remarkable number of over 100,000 engravings.

To find out more about this and other trips of historical and cultural interest, visit the website at Alcyon Riviera Touring or telephone +33 6 80 86 43 62